Aitor Gonzalez vainqueur du Tour de Suisse

"Jim Flom " <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:qWkte.81492$tt5.64261@edtnps90...

Quoted message said:

Discuss.

With such class I don't know why you aren't on TV.

Tom Kunich said:

"Jim Flom " <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:qWkte.81492$tt5.64261@edtnps90...

Quoted message said:

Discuss.

With such class I don't know why you aren't on TV.

That's an intriguing comment.

You're right, there IS an alarming lack of class in RBR. What do you
propose that we do about it, OGO?

Steady Rollin' Man said:

Aitor Gonzalez vainqueur du Tour de Suisse

19.06.2005

Aitor Gonzalez a fait coup double en remportant dimanche l'étape du jour
ainsi que le 69ème Tour de Suisse. A Ulrichen, le coureur basque d'Euskaltel
a subtilisé la première place du classement général à l'Australien de la
Quickstep Michael Rogers, quatrième de l'étape. Frank Schleck (CSC) et
Daniel Atienza (COF) terminent respectivement sur la deuxième et sur la
troisième marche du podium.

"Je suis heureux de revenir au meilleur niveau, a déclaré Aitor Gonzalez au
micro de la télévision suisse. Après deux ans difficiles, durant lesquels j'ai
connu quelques problèmes de santé, ça fait plaisir." C'est dans les premiers
kilomètres de la montée du col de la Furka que le Basque a laissé comprendre
qu'il se battrait pour la victoire d'étape et, indirectement, pour la
première place du classement général.

A ce moment-là, il plaçait une attaque que le groupe du maillot jaune ne
pouvait pas freiner. Avec une minute d'avance au sommet du col et une
descente pratiquement idéale, le Basque n'a jamais donné l'impression de
céder la moindre seconde. Poussé dans ses tout derniers retranchements sur
la fin, il s'est montré héroïque et a offert un final exceptionnel. La
veille déjà, peu avant l'arrivée à Verbier, le coureur d'Euskaltel avait
prouvé qu'il était capable de réussir de jolis coups. Largué encore peu
avant l'arrivée, il avait grappillé peu à peu ses secondes de [censored] pour
terminer à la quatrième place. Un effort loin d'être vain puisqu'il lui
permettait de prendre également la quatrième place au classement général, à
36 secondes de Michael Rogers qu'il a détrôné sur ce circuit des Alpes.

Cette dernière étape du 69ème Tour de Suisse a véritablement tenu toutes ses
promesses. Les ascensions successives des cols du Nufenen, du Gotthard et de
la Furka (tous classés hors catégorie) ont donné lieu à de nombreux
rebondissements.

Au classement général final, Jan Ullrich conserve sa troisième place. Sur
cette étape-reine, l'Allemand n'est pas apparu dans sa meilleure forme. Si
le coureur de la T-Mobile compte rivaliser avec Lance Armstrong sur le
prochain Tour de France, il devra encore profiter des 15 jours qui lui
restent pour affiner sa préparation.

It's so nice to see Euskaltel finally getting [censored] done. I wonder if
Gonzalez is going to the Tour? He performed very poorly in the Giro,
but he seems to be coming into the kind of form that will be invaluable
to the E-E cause in the Tour. But he said at the beginning of the
season that he wouldn't be doing it anymore, that the TdF "didn't suit
him." But he should. He really should.. Mayo will need all the help he
can get.

-Sonarrat.

sonarrat schreef:

Quoted message said:

. Mayo will need all the help he
can get.

Any indication that Mayo will be remotely ready to ride for the overall?

Van Hoorebeeck Bart said:

sonarrat schreef:

Quoted message said:

. Mayo will need all the help he
can get.

Any indication that Mayo will be remotely ready to ride for the overall?

There have been flashes here and there, but I'm not sure. I think the
first race he did this year was the Volta a Catalunya at the end of May.
That worries me, because that's the kind of late-start program that
Roberto Heras used to do when he wanted to merely "get through" the
Tour, but go on to seriously contest the Vuelta. Furthermore, that's
the same sort of schedule Mayo himself followed in 2002 when he took 5th
place in the Vuelta. I think there is reason to be suspicious about his
readiness for the Tour, but there -have- been those flashes of form that
give me encouragement.

-Sonarrat.

"Tim Lines" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tom Kunich said:

"Jim Flom " <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:qWkte.81492$tt5.64261@edtnps90...

Quoted message said:

Discuss.

With such class I don't know why you aren't on TV.

That's an intriguing comment.

You're right, there IS an alarming lack of class in RBR. What do you
propose that we do about it, OGO?

*I * would suggest that people whose IQ is less than the width of a BB in
feet should not ask others to comment on something.

Tom Kunich said:

"Tim Lines" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tom Kunich said:

"Jim Flom " <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:qWkte.81492$tt5.64261@edtnps90...

>Discuss.

With such class I don't know why you aren't on TV.

That's an intriguing comment.

You're right, there IS an alarming lack of class in RBR. What do you
propose that we do about it, OGO?

*I * would suggest that people whose IQ is less than the width of a BB in
feet should not ask others to comment on something.

Thank you for your contribution to continually increasing the amount of
class exhibited in this fine newsgroup. You are a beacon of brightness
and enlightenment in an otherwise dim something-or-other.

"Tim Lines" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tom Kunich said:

"Tim Lines" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tom Kunich wrote:

>"Jim Flom " <[email hidden]> wrote in message
>news:qWkte.81492$tt5.64261@edtnps90...
>
>
>>Discuss.
>
>
>With such class I don't know why you aren't on TV.
>
>

That's an intriguing comment.

You're right, there IS an alarming lack of class in RBR. What do you
propose that we do about it, OGO?

*I * would suggest that people whose IQ is less than the width of a BB in
feet should not ask others to comment on something.

Thank you for your contribution to continually increasing the amount of
class exhibited in this fine newsgroup. You are a beacon of brightness
and enlightenment in an otherwise dim something-or-other.

Discuss.

"Van Hoorebeeck Bart" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

sonarrat schreef:

Quoted message said:

. Mayo will need all the help he
can get.

Any indication that Mayo will be remotely ready to ride for the overall?

O.K if you are a huge fan of Mayo:

1) You belive he is following a great preparation program and that it will
show off at the right time.

2) You suspect that Haimar Zubeldia is secretly following an equally
intensive program (nobody knows where) and that he is going back to his 2003
shape, just with the only objective of disminishing Mayo's shine (a kind of
mini Cunego-Simoni) and dispute him the team's leadership.

3) You are horrified to see that Aitor Gonzalez is in great shape and he may
claim a position in the TdF team (in which he was not supposed to
participate) and that he will use such chance not to help Mayo, but to take
shine away from him.

Sounds paranoic. Well, that seems to be the case right now. If the team has
another debacle in the TdF it could be the end of it! But you never know,
look what has happend.. Two major TdF preparation races, two wins for
Euskaltel.

Of course, everything would be different if Mayo had shown anything in the
TdS. If what is rumoured about Zubeldia is true, the team could set up an
acceptable TTT with Zubeldia and Gonzalez (to save Mayo's ass) and then add
Laiseka and Landaluze (that seems to be in Decent shape to help Mayo in the
mountains).

But really, with Euskaltel management team expect the unexpected.

alex said:

2) You suspect that Haimar Zubeldia is secretly following an equally
intensive program (nobody knows where) and that he is going back to his 2003
shape, just with the only objective of disminishing Mayo's shine (a kind of
mini Cunego-Simoni) and dispute him the team's leadership.

I have always felt that great things can be expected from people that
take time off from racing to properly, ummmm, prepare for the Tour.

I won't speculate on any motives though.

Bob Schwartz
[email hidden]

alex said:

"Van Hoorebeeck Bart" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

sonarrat schreef:

Quoted message said:

. Mayo will need all the help he
can get.

Any indication that Mayo will be remotely ready to ride for the overall?

O.K if you are a huge fan of Mayo:

1) You belive he is following a great preparation program and that it will
show off at the right time.

2) You suspect that Haimar Zubeldia is secretly following an equally
intensive program (nobody knows where) and that he is going back to his 2003
shape, just with the only objective of disminishing Mayo's shine (a kind of
mini Cunego-Simoni) and dispute him the team's leadership.

3) You are horrified to see that Aitor Gonzalez is in great shape and he may
claim a position in the TdF team (in which he was not supposed to
participate) and that he will use such chance not to help Mayo, but to take
shine away from him.

Sounds paranoic. Well, that seems to be the case right now. If the team has
another debacle in the TdF it could be the end of it! But you never know,
look what has happend.. Two major TdF preparation races, two wins for
Euskaltel.

Of course, everything would be different if Mayo had shown anything in the
TdS. If what is rumoured about Zubeldia is true, the team could set up an
acceptable TTT with Zubeldia and Gonzalez (to save Mayo's ass) and then add
Laiseka and Landaluze (that seems to be in Decent shape to help Mayo in the
mountains).

But really, with Euskaltel management team expect the unexpected.

They've certainly kept their cards close to their chest. Remember when
T-Mobile was grousing about not having any victories? No such
complaints from E-E. I have strong suspicions that nobody from the team
did any serious training until February, with the big single goal of the
season being the Tour de France, with the majority of the team coming
onto form in July or later.

Whatever happens, even Mayo's worst seasons have shown his ample natural
ability. He always manages to do something.

-Sonarrat.

Bob Schwartz said:

I have always felt that great things can be expected from people that
take time off from racing to properly, ummmm, prepare for the Tour.

Have you been near Lafferty lately, or can Laffertitus be transmitted over
the Internet ?

Donald Munro said:

Bob Schwartz said:

I have always felt that great things can be expected from people that
take time off from racing to properly, ummmm, prepare for the Tour.

Quoted message said:

Have you been near Lafferty lately, or can Laffertitus be transmitted over
the Internet ?

Lafferty gives me an upset stomach.

My model for the above sentiment is Ullrich. Year after year the guy
sucks hard in the spring. There have been times when his form was
so bad that you would not think this guy could ever be a professional
cyclist. Then he disappears for an intensive training camp. When he
gets back he's the second best stage racer around. Gotta wonder what
goes on in that camp. The progress he makes is astounding.

The model used to be that you raced yourself into good form for the
Tour. But that model is out of date. It is not unusual at all to see
someone disappear and then be roaring in the Tour.

Bob Schwartz
[email hidden]

Donald Munro said:

Have you been near Lafferty lately, or can Laffertitus be transmitted
over the Internet ?

Lately it seems like some rbr posters have been very near to Lafferty.

"sonarrat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

alex said:

"Van Hoorebeeck Bart" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

sonarrat schreef:

>. Mayo will need all the help he
>can get.
>

Any indication that Mayo will be remotely ready to ride for the overall?

O.K if you are a huge fan of Mayo:

1) You belive he is following a great preparation program and that it
will show off at the right time.

2) You suspect that Haimar Zubeldia is secretly following an equally
intensive program (nobody knows where) and that he is going back to his
2003 shape, just with the only objective of disminishing Mayo's shine (a
kind of mini Cunego-Simoni) and dispute him the team's leadership.

3) You are horrified to see that Aitor Gonzalez is in great shape and he
may claim a position in the TdF team (in which he was not supposed to
participate) and that he will use such chance not to help Mayo, but to
take shine away from him.

Sounds paranoic. Well, that seems to be the case right now. If the team
has another debacle in the TdF it could be the end of it! But you never
know, look what has happend.. Two major TdF preparation races, two wins
for Euskaltel.

Of course, everything would be different if Mayo had shown anything in
the TdS. If what is rumoured about Zubeldia is true, the team could set
up an acceptable TTT with Zubeldia and Gonzalez (to save Mayo's ass) and
then add Laiseka and Landaluze (that seems to be in Decent shape to help
Mayo in the mountains).

But really, with Euskaltel management team expect the unexpected.

They've certainly kept their cards close to their chest. Remember when
T-Mobile was grousing about not having any victories? No such complaints
from E-E. I have strong suspicions that nobody from the team did any
serious training until February, with the big single goal of the season
being the Tour de France, with the majority of the team coming onto form
in July or later.

I think you give their organization too much credit. I have the impression
the management team did not even suspect that Aitor was in such shinning
shape. The team has been getting plenty of heat during the early season in
the Basque country (and they get the usual level of discredit from the
Spanish press ), not least because the doping allegations last year just
before the TdF and the suspicious descend in relative performance since last
year (that I guess is the source of the remark that Bob made). But the last
two weeks have helped them to lower the pressure levels. In the doping
department it seems it may have helped that the attention now has diverted
to Liberty...

alex said:

I think you give their organization too much credit. I have the impression
the management team did not even suspect that Aitor was in such shinning
shape. The team has been getting plenty of heat during the early season in
the Basque country (and they get the usual level of discredit from the
Spanish press ), not least because the doping allegations last year just
before the TdF and the suspicious descend in relative performance since last
year (that I guess is the source of the remark that Bob made). But the last
two weeks have helped them to lower the pressure levels. In the doping
department it seems it may have helped that the attention now has diverted
to Liberty...

I am, of course, willing to entertain the possibility that Julian
Gorospe doesn't know a cycling team from a hole in the wall.

Bob Schwartz said:

Quoted message said:

Lafferty gives me an upset stomach.

Just because the dish is passed doesn't mean you're obligated to take a
scoop. This is rbr: you can risk being rude.

Robert Chung said:

Donald Munro said:

Have you been near Lafferty lately, or can Laffertitus be transmitted
over the Internet ?

Lately it seems like some rbr posters have been very near to Lafferty.

I suppose at this point you'll be naming names.

Madariaga is the team manager and the one that acts as if he were the owner.
He is the goverment clerk that had the original idea to form the team during
some long afternoons while he was doing paper ships, and now handles a
multimillion Euro company with subtantial responsibility (becuse after all
his team is strongly identifies with one location).

Julian knows what is a team. What he may not know is how to manage it and
its components. In any case, he did not have any major experience before the
EE and was put there by Madariaga. But it was O.K while everything was for
amateurs. It was just fun and it worked till they went to the TdF.

I think the whole concept is now starting to make some people have second
thoughts. Not least because even without Euskaltel, there are plenty of
cyclist from the basque country in the ranks other professional teams in
Spain (and there are other basque profesional teams). And now that it is
becoming clear that the Euskaltel guys are not much of a team, people may be
finding unfair they get so much 'institutional' support.

"sonarrat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

alex said:

I think you give their organization too much credit. I have the
impression the management team did not even suspect that Aitor was in
such shinning shape. The team has been getting plenty of heat during the
early season in the Basque country (and they get the usual level of
discredit from the Spanish press ), not least because the doping
allegations last year just before the TdF and the suspicious descend in
relative performance since last year (that I guess is the source of the
remark that Bob made). But the last two weeks have helped them to lower
the pressure levels. In the doping department it seems it may have helped
that the attention now has diverted to Liberty...

I am, of course, willing to entertain the possibility that Julian Gorospe
doesn't know a cycling team from a hole in the wall.